Hey Guys,
I'm skinning the Leading edge with 2024T3 , I bought them at Aircraft Spruce...

18X144X.016 for $48 bucks each.....I bought two.

Below are some pictures of my "lay-out" on the leading edge....

I put lines down the Rib "stubs" , So I could reach around and hold it straight during drilling....( They Helped )

I extended those lines to the Channel.... and used them to mark the leading edge "Skin"...

I put lines on the sheet.... and drilled the rivet holes for one side....

I used the edge of the channel to help line up the sheet "square"

Gotta Fly...
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The lines on the ribs were VERY important... They can be seen thru the holes in the skin... and can be held at 90 degrees while drilling...Then , when your on the other side and drilling in &quot;The Blind&quot; , you'll hit the ribs...I had no problems.

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 02.JPG (89.91 KiB) Viewed 6956 times

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 03.JPG (86.63 KiB) Viewed 6956 times

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 04.JPG (110.32 KiB) Viewed 6956 times

Last edited by planecrazzzy on Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down... Gotta Fly...

Hey Guys,
Messing with this Awkward , Flimsy , Springy Skin.... Has been a Battle...

I finally found a way to Hold the frame , While pulling the skin over the nose of the Ribs...

During some of my screwing around... I managed to kink the skin a little....

The next one should come out fine... I noticed Earl had a little "Bondo" in his...

Guess I'll be doing the same...

I had Cleco's on one side... But I found that I needed to take a few off ...

That way I could clamp it from the opposite side I was working on....

I clamped a 1/4 X 2 X 144 piece of steel to the "Lip".... and I hung four - 9 lb weights on it....

It worked....

Gotta Fly...
Mike & "Jaz" in MN

Note... After I got rivets and clecos around the area that krinkled on me..... I tapped them a little with a hammer....
and they came out.... They're is a slight hint.... But I think it'll be fine.... I was suprised and GLAD !
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This set-up is what finally worked to pull the skin over the ribs to start drilling.... Two horses with 3-- 2x4's This bridges over the Hinges that are on the channel.... Then I used 4&quot; vise grip Finger clamps, I used 4 plates to protect the thin ch

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 10.JPG (110.51 KiB) Viewed 6878 times

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 12.JPG (119.73 KiB) Viewed 6878 times

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 14.JPG (123.21 KiB) Viewed 6878 times

Last edited by planecrazzzy on Sun Feb 15, 2009 11:28 pm, edited 4 times in total.

Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down... Gotta Fly...

Notice the "RED" rivets on the Bottom.... Those are Aluminum rivets that will be drilled out later to add the
extension that goes on the lower part of the leading edge...I used them So I can drill all the holes along that edge
I'll put one more aluminum rivet between each of those to hold it a little better... They drill out easy...

Gotta Fly...
Mike & "Jaz" in MN
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Attachments

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 15.JPG (108.38 KiB) Viewed 6851 times

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 16.JPG (96.95 KiB) Viewed 6851 times

The &quot;Lip&quot; still needs to be &quot;rolled&quot;, I'm waiting for rivets ... Then I'll do both leading edges...

Leading Edge-2024T3 Skin 18.JPG (104.87 KiB) Viewed 6851 times

Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down... Gotta Fly...

Hey guys,
I've got one of the leading edge "lower lip" set in place.... As I said, I used the drops from
the leading edge Skin... The sheets "meet" at the Hinges and the Lift strut arms... See pictures.

I like the way it turned out... and it was cheap.... I could weld the splices , but there's no need to do it.

Gotta Fly...
Mike & "Jaz" in MN

Attachments

Leading Edge Lower Lip 04.JPG (104.43 KiB) Viewed 6825 times

Leading Edge Lower Lip 05.JPG (104.65 KiB) Viewed 6825 times

Leading Edge Lower Lip 06.JPG (107.98 KiB) Viewed 6825 times

Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down... Gotta Fly...

I think I know why...there is a line on the plans where you welded on the tab. I think there was supposed to be a slot cut in the steel to allow the tab to fit inside. This would move the tab back so it would not need to be cut off. I wonder if we are supposed to cut the slot through bth sides and weld the back, front and bottom for strength? Thanks for all the pictures. Also, on the plans the second mounting 'hole' is outside the bracket. It looks better your way but I wonder if oxy/gas welded it might be a problem with strength?

I am trying to attach 1 of Earl's construction photos. I hope it works. It shows the weld along the bottom and the front. I was just going over the plans and tried to answer your posted question about why the extra length. I think your hinges came out looking great, very polished.
I was concerned about the difference between TIG that you are using and someone like me following you but using oxy/gas. May not be a valid concern (with the hole in the tube but being welded back up and all.) It was different than the plans and I was just curious.